Resource geopolitics, how to promote democracy in Africa, and events, events, events
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All eyes are on the escalating war in the Middle East. EU countries are divided on what to say, let alone what to do about it. This only increases the general sense of powerlessness and dread plaguing the continent – leading many voters to search for alternative political offers.
The outcome of the Austrian elections last weekend is case in point. The results were in line with a trend we are witnessing in Europe: yet another country veering to the far right. It seems that the European electorate is more and more willing to vote for parties whose stances are very clear when it comes to migration and the Russian war in Ukraine, but rather blurry on supporting democracies and human rights, both inside and outside the EU’s borders. This debate on where our democracies are headed is not only alive in Europe, it is also happening on the African continent. We have seen coups, other unconstitutional changes of government and a decreasing civic space in various regions. For the last three years, we have worked on a project that looked at the role of the African Union and other regional organisations in Africa in supporting civil society. This week, we share a paper summarising the results of this extensive research: outlining ways in which civil society can engage with these organisations to protect and promote democracy.
Another issue high on Europe’s and Africa’s agenda is access to critical raw materials. The EU’s plan for this is the Critical Raw Materials Act that entered into force less than six months ago. While it is still too early to assess its impact, we have been looking at green industrialisation and energy transition from a political economy perspective: analysing some of the value chains linked to these minerals and cases of resource nationalism. For an overview of all of this, you can listen to one of our experts on the ‘Extratives Podcast’, a series about the geopolitics of rare earth elements. ?
Finally, we have detailed all our work on the circular economy. It might be a useful read for many of you, but especially for those readers currently attending the Circular Economy Forum in Italy.
All the best,
Virginia Mucchi Head of outreach and impact at ECDPM
Editor’s pick
Martin Ronceray and Nneka Okechukwu, PhD summarise their research on the African Union and three regional economic communities – EAC, ECOWAS and SADC – focusing on their governance agendas and interactions with civil society, including through digital technologies.
This work is ECDPM’s final paper produced for The Charter Project Africa .
Highlights
In the latest episode of Sheila Khama 's Extractives Podcast, ECDPM’s Poorva Karkare kare shares her insights on the geopolitics of critical raw materials, analysing them through a political economy lens.
Creating a circular economy can help us minimise our environmental footprint and operate within planetary boundaries, while creating new economic opportunities. This impact story explores what ECDPM has done to promote the integration of external dimensions in the circular economy agenda.
Events
领英推荐
1-3 OCTOBER
The 2024 ReSAKKS conference is taking place in Rabat. ECDPM’s Cecilia D'Alessandro ndro discussed innovative financing mechanisms for climate adaptation in African agrifood systems, and Koen Dekeyser er will speak about the global green agenda and its implications for African economies
2-4 OCTOBER
The Re-think Circular Economy Forum is taking place in Taranto.
7-8 OCTOBER
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference will take place.
7-11 OCTOBER
This year’s Trade and Environment Week will be held at the World Trade Organization’s headquarters in Geneva and virtually.
8 OCTOBER
The Berlin Climate and Security Conference takes place in person and online.
9 OCTOBER
The Institute of International and European Affairs hosts a discussion on relations between the EU and the AU.
9-10 OCTOBER
Hosted by the European Commission, the Global Gateway high-level youth event will take place in Brussels.
9-11 OCTOBER
G7 health ministers will meet in Ancona.
9-11 OCTOBER
The AfCFTA BiasharaAfrika (Business Forum) is happening in Kigali. ?
10 OCTOBER
We will host a closed-door roundtable discussion on the green agendas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco and South Africa to examine the local experience of geopolitical rivalry between the EU and China. ECDPM’s Mariella Di Ciommo will moderate the discussion and Pauline Veron will present the findings of our work on the topic .
Other news
EU POLITICS
An EU defence commissioner could unify the defence industry and boost NATO cooperation, but resource limits, state reluctance and institutional friction may impede progress (Rym Momtaz, Carnegie Europe)
The next months will show how committed European leaders are to restoring economic competitiveness (Howard Davies for Project Syndicate)
European political leaders have blind spots that illustrate the difference between the principle and the reality of the EU’s enlightenment ideals (Pawel Zerka, ECFR)
MIGRATION AND MOBILITY
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